Car loses power hitting a bump.

[OneEightSeven]

The last few days I noticed my car is losing power if I hit a bump. The trip meter resets and my gauges die for a second. What could be causing this? I initially thought bad battery terminal contact but the alternator should keep the car running, no?

[3.4grapeofwrath]

Re: Car loses power hitting a bump.

Sounds like a bad ground wire. Either the connection or the wire itself could be bad. Check all your grounds not just on the battery.

[kristen]

Re: Car loses power hitting a bump.

/\ bingo

[truekoa]

Re: Car loses power hitting a bump.

Sounds like a bad ground wire. Either the connection or the wire itself could be bad. Check all your grounds not just on the battery.

Had this happen to me before. the connection on the battery was not tightened all the way. So a hard take off or a bump would move it around, shutting my car off or flicking the lights.

[Rob Bell]

Re: Car loses power hitting a bump.

I agree, it must be a bad ground wherever the instrument panel hooks up. You may need a schematic to see where the wire is for the instrument panel.

[OneEightSeven]

Re: Car loses power hitting a bump.

@all

I'm going to check all my grounds tomorrow.

@Rob Bell

It's not just the instrument panel. The car loses power all together :(.

[Rob Bell]

Re: Car loses power hitting a bump.

In that case, yeah, check the main grounds in the engine bay. Also make sure your PCM harnesses are snug.

[pace2006]

Re: Car loses power hitting a bump.

Yep. Check the connections to the battery terminal.

Two weeks after I got the Z31. I had the car out to show a friend and let him drive some. On the way back I rounded a corner, got up to the gate, and punched the code waiting for it to open. Once it opened, I started to edge it forward and right as I went through a small dip, bam, it died. No power, nothing. Windows were down and go figure it started pouring. Had to run to the other car, get the tool kit out, and tighten the connection at the battery to get power and roll the windows back up. Simple as that.

[OneEightSeven]

Re: Car loses power hitting a bump.

Figured it out, the drivers side fuse box (in the engine bay) was loose at the auxilary positive battery port on that side. so each time it bounced it lost power. The car runs fine off the alternator, the battery does not have to be plugged in.